May 7, 2024
Members of the Class of 2024 will walk across the stage as Laurel Ridge Community College holds its 53rd annual commencement exercises May 9 and 10. Health professions graduates will have their ceremony on Thursday, followed by all other graduates on Friday. Both ceremonies will be held outdoors – rain or shine – behind Cornerstone Hall on the Middletown Campus, beginning at 2 p.m.
Strasburg-area resident Jason Dolan, a firefighter-paramedic earning his registered nursing diploma, will be the May 9 commencement speaker. Brandi Yasem, of Winchester, who intends to become a cardiovascular surgeon, will speak at the May 10 ceremony.
Following the health professions commencement ceremony on May 9, there will be pinning ceremonies for graduates in the nursing, surgical technology and medical laboratory technician programs. Additionally, emergency medical services graduates will have a coin ceremony.
Thursday’s and Friday’s ceremonies cap off a week of celebrations, including those for TRIO graduates, student academic and engagement award winners and those in the Early College program.
It is anticipated 1,003 students make up the Laurel Ridge Class of 2024, a 12-percent increase from last year’s 895. Graduates are from the following localities:
• Clarke County 40
• Fauquier County 178
• Frederick County 253
• Page County 42
• Rappahannock County 11
• Shenandoah County 115
• Warren County 91
• Winchester 134
• Other 139
Founded in 1970, Laurel Ridge Community College is a multi-campus public institution of higher education. With three locations — Middletown, Warrenton, and Luray-Page County — the College serves eight localities in the Shenandoah Valley and northern Piedmont regions. The localities are the counties of Clarke, Fauquier, Frederick, Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah and Warren and the city of Winchester. Laurel Ridge offers more than 75 associate degree and certificate programs in a wide variety of disciplines. Laurel Ridge also serves the business community by offering workforce preparation programs for employees and employers. Laurel Ridge serves more than 9,000 unduplicated credit students and more than 11,000 individuals in professional development and business and industry courses annually.
Laurel Ridge Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. Laurel Ridge Community College also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Laurel Ridge Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Laurel Ridge Community College is an equal opportunity institution providing educational and employment opportunities, programs, services, and activities. Laurel Ridge shall promote and maintain equal employment and educational opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions including lactation, age (except when age is a bona fide occupational qualification), status as a veteran, national origin, or other non-merit factors. Laurel Ridge also prohibits sexual misconduct including sexual violence or harassment. Inquiries may be directed to the Associate Vice President, Human Resources, [email protected], 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA 22645, 540-868-7226.
Laurel Ridge Community College was known as Lord Fairfax Community College until June 2022. For consistency purposes, the college will be referenced as Laurel Ridge going forward.